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Peter K. Mangurian Named Columbia's Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football

Dec 08, 2011

Courtesy of Columbia Media Relations/Sports Information

NEW YORK -- Peter K. Mangurian (pronounced Man - GUHR - ee - an), veteran NFL coach and former Ivy League head football coach, has been named Columbia University's Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education at Columbia University announced Thursday.

A formal press conference will be held on Friday, Dec. 9, 20 at 2 p.m. at Faculty House on the campus of Columbia University.

Mangurian has more than 30 years of football coaching experience in the Football Championship Subdivision, Bowl Championship Subdivision and the National Football League. He has coached in five bowl games, four with Louisiana State University, including two Sugar Bowls. In the NFL, he coached in four AFC Championships and two Super Bowls.

No stranger to the Ivy League, Mangurian was the head football coach at Cornell University from 1998-2000, compiling a 16-14 overall record, but bringing Cornell from last place in the Ivy League in 1998, to third in 1999 and second in 2000. Mangurian posted a 10-4 Ivy League record in 1999-2000, marking the best two-year conference record in Cornell history.

"Pete Mangurian is an outstanding football coach," Dr. Murphy said. "He brings tremendous experience with a plethora of impressive mentors, including Bill Arnsparger, Dan Reeves and Bill Belichick. He has worked in great organizations under Pat Bowlen, owner of the Denver Broncos, and Robert K. Kraft '63CC, owner of the New England Patriots. Pete's experience speaks for itself."

"As soon as I stepped on campus, I was energized. What excited me the most was that every person I spoke to had the same enthusiasm, commitment and passion for the athletics program and the football program in particular," Mangurian said. "We will need collaboration to be successful, and I felt that immediately. This is a tremendous opportunity to give this outstanding university an outstanding football program.

Mangurian began his coaching career in 1979-80 at Southern Methodist University as an offensive line coach. He coached the offensive line at New Mexico State and Stanford before returning to his alma mater, LSU in 1984. With the Tigers, Magurian coached in two Sugar Bowls, the Liberty Bowl and the 1987 Gator Bowl.

In 1988, Mangurian began a long stint in the NFL, first with head coach Dan Reeves and the Denver Broncos for five years as a tight end/half backs coach and offensive line coach.

Mangurian moved with Coach Reeves to the New York Giants from 1993-96, and then to the Atlanta Falcons in 1997.

After a very successful three years as the head football coach at Cornell University (1998-2000), Mangurian reunited with Reeves in Atlanta as the offensive line coach and then as the offensive coordinator in 2002-03.

To round out his NFL coaching career, Mangurian spent four years with the New England Patriots coaching the tight ends (2005-2008) and two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-10).

"I want to thank members of the search advisory committee, which include Associate Athletics Director Ray Tellier and football alumni Ted Gregory '74CC, Don Jackson '73CC, and Kevin Ward '74CC. Their perspective, advice and counsel was instrumental in conducting this search," Dr. Murphy said. "I also want to thank University leadership for their commitment to our football program. The support of President Lee C. Bollinger, Chair, University Trustees William V. Campbell '62CC, Columbia College Interim Dean James Valentini and Special Advisor to the President Susan K. Feagin '74GS is greatly appreciated and critical in hiring our new head football coach."